The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and its safety partners are reminding motorists to buckle up in connection with the “Click It or Ticket” Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization that runs from May 12 through June 1, 2025.
Representatives from PennDOT, the Highway Safety Network, the City of Erie Police Department, and other local municipal police departments participated in Erie Mayor Joe Schember’s weekly press conference to promote safety on Pennsylvania’s roadways and draw attention to the dangers of not using a seat belt.
“Buckling up takes a few seconds and it’s the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself when you get behind the wheel,” said Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator Mike Tautin of the Highway Safety Network. “Too many motorists rely on the misconception that airbags are enough to keep them safe. Airbags and seat belts are designed to work together to provide life-saving protection when used properly.”
According to PennDOT data, there were 1,127 statewide roadway fatalities in 2024, including 311 who were not wearing a seat belt. In PennDOT’s District 1, which includes Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties, there were 23 unbelted fatalities among the 75 total roadway deaths last year.
Wearing a seat belt increases a person’s chance of survival in a crash by up to 60 percent and can keep drivers secure in their vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to a statewide seat belt survey, 87.6% of motorists wore their seatbelt in Pennsylvania last year, which is slightly below the national average of 91.2% for adult front-seat passengers.
“While the majority of drivers are making the effort to wear their seatbelt, there is still a sizable portion who are leaving themselves unprotected,” Tautin said. “Simply choosing to buckle up every trip, every time can help reduce the number of fatalities we see on our roadways each year.
Pennsylvania law requires drivers and passengers 18 years and older to wear a seat belt when behind the wheel or in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
Throughout the ongoing “Click It or Ticket” campaign, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) are joining forces with hundreds of municipal law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and other states to send a zero-tolerance message to motorists that driving or riding without a seat belt will result in a ticket, no matter the state.
State and municipal police officers will conduct traffic enforcement zones and roving patrols to encourage seat belt usage and fine those found not following Pennsylvania’s laws.
More information on seat belt safety can be found on PennDOT’s website.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/District1.
Follow local PennDOT news on X and like the department on Facebook.
Note: Below are district-specific crash statistics involving unrestrained motorists and/or passengers.
Unrestrained Crash Fatalities (All Ages) in District 1 |
| |||||
County | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 5-Year Total |
Crawford | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 23 |
Erie | 6 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 42 |
Forest | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mercer | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 25 |
Venango | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
Warren | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
District Total | 15 | 33 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 116 |
MEDIA CONTACT: Saxon Daugherty, sadaughert@pa.gov or 814-678-7095
# # #